1081st Meeting of the Pacific Coast Numismatic Society

1081 meeting of the
Pacific Coast Numismatic Society
8:00PM Wednesday May 24, 2006
Room 370, Building C, Fort Mason

San Francisco, California

The Denman Grammar School Medals
Michael Wehner

Pacific Coast Numismatic Society
Box 475656 San Francisco, CA 94147-5656
Bulletin Editor: Michael Wehner

Please join us Wednesday, May 24" at 8:00PM to learn the
story behind the Denman Grammar School Medals and one of
the recipients. Board meeting starts about 7ish. Please note that
there are five Wednesdays in this month. As usual we meet on
the fourth Wednesday which is not necessarily the last.

1080" meeting. April 26, 2006: April Fools! Everybody
(compiled by Herb Miles)

April Fools! We had no speaker last month. Instead members
were asked to bring something in a spirit of April 1°. There was,
of course, no shortage of foolish things. However a report on
them will have to wait until next month.

Banquet June 24, 2006
We return to the Gold Mirror Restaurant at 18" and Taraval

Streets in San Francisco for the annual banquet. The price is $41
per person. See the attached form for dinner choices. The
famous PCNS bingo game will return!

2006 Papers Contest.
We have received five papers for the annual contest. They are

now in the hands of the judges. Awards are expected to be made:
at the banquet. Thanks to all the authors!

Tentative 2006 future programs
June: Banquet

July: Federico Castillo, TBA

August: Whalen, “Christian Gobrecht and His Dollar”

Fall: Elliot Wehner “National Bank Notes”

Fall: Steve Huston, TBA

Please contact Michael Wehner if you would like to speak in
2006 at (415) 928-4469 or mf_wehner@yahoo.com

Parking
We have learned that Fort Mason will begin charging for

parking. Our best guess is that it will about $6 to park for the
three hours of a board meeting and a regular meeting. It should
be starting this month. Suggestions for alternatives are solicited.

Editor’s note:

Sorry for the repeat article below, but I had to fill the space.
Plus there is a weak tie in to the program but you will have to
come to the meeting to find it out!

© Michael Wehner

1876 California Medal Michael Wehner

Obverse: GEORGE WASHINGTON GREAT FOUNDER OF THE
UNITED STATES OF AMERICA . JULY 4, 1776 / (bust of GW in wreath,
crossed California and US flags, early SF bay scene with sailing ship stage
coach and pony express) / C.F. MOHRIG / A. KUNER. F

Reverse: PROGRESS OF TIME AND FREEDOM TO ALL MANKIND /
JULY 4, 1876 / CALIFORNIA / (State seal, contemporary SF bay scene
with steamship, railroad, miners, Fort Point, Alcatraz lighthouse) / (circle of
stars)

Silver, 40.3 mm, looped for suspension, cataloged as Baker-410.

This rare California medal, celebrating the centennial of the
United States, is a collaboration between two important pioneer
California engravers. A number of fractional gold pieces are attributed
to C.F. Mohrig. However, it was Albert Kuner who was the most
prolific of early San Francisco diesinkers having engraved many of
the early private gold issues. The capital letter “F” after his name on
this piece likely stands for “fecit”, Latin for “made it”. One might
speculate that Mohrig engraved the dies while the very successful
Kuner manufactured it in his shop. Further research is warranted to
determine the relationship between these two men.

Available from the PCNS:

PCNS 1000" meeting medals.The set includes both a proof

silver and an antiqued bronze specimen and is only $30 plus
postage and insurance. A reminder of the Society’s long and
venerable history.

The Old Streets of San Francisco, Early Street Names on
Some Brass Tokens by

Jerry F. Schimmel. Published by the Pacific Coast Numismatic
Society in 1993. 41 pages including many pictures. A must have
reference for those interested in western trade tokens or San
Francisco history. $10 plus postage

Many back issues of the PCNS quarterly are also available.
Contact the Bulletin editor for specific issues. Also, many back
issues of the bulletin are may be found at
www.pcns.org/bnnnn.pdf where nnnn is the meeting number.